Latest news with #AppleTree
Time Out
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
EG Coffee: Quiet pet-friendly café in Queenstown with a wide selection of drinks
Queenstown is a sorely underrated neighbourhood in terms of cafés. Just within a one-kilometre radius, you'll chance upon unassuming joints underneath HDB blocks or nestled in industrial buildings – places like Kyuukei, Rookie's, Cupo Coffee, Alchemist The Mill, Creamie Sippies, Tiong Hoe, and more. Add one to the list: EG Coffee is a new café located below the apartment complex Alexis, which is an eight-minute walk from Queenstown MRT. The setup is simple – white and light-wood tones with four small tables indoors, and foldable camping chairs outdoors, where pets are welcome. The interiors are peppered with quirky knick-knacks, including a mini Sudoku corner where you can have a go at a puzzle while waiting. A friendly couple, Esther and Gavin (after whom the café is named), run the place. We pop by before lunchtime on a Sunday and the café is still relatively quiet. For a small neighbourhood café, EG Coffee offers a surprisingly extensive drinks menu. It's got the usual roster of espresso-based drinks (a latte starts at $6.50, which is not the cheapest), filter coffee (from $9) and cold brews ($9). The proprietary Icons Blend is a medium-to-dark roast Guatemala and Uganda blend which is smooth and chocolatey with hints of caramel. You can also opt for Geisha and Yirgacheffe beans at a top-up, or ask the barista for the origin of the day. There are also interesting options like the dried orange latte ($6.90), mint coconut latte ($7.90), black sesame latte ($6.50), osmanthus latte ($6.90), as well as strawberry matcha ($9.50) and hojicha ($7.90). The black sesame latte ($7.50) is one of the most ordered items here, with a thick, velvety consistency, and a toasty, slightly savoury flavour. To beat the heat, EG also has refreshing soda-based coolers like the Strawberry Bliss ($6.50), Apple Tree ($7.50), Orange Sea ($7.50) and yuzu matcha ($8.90), as well as iced teas (from $5.90) on the menu. Get breakfast or brunch sorted with a varied selection of pastries, bagels, sandwiches and even acai bowls ($12.90). There's the classic hearty chicken sando ($9.90) or stuffed croissant sandwiches ($12.90), as well as savouries like curry chicken puffs and black pepper chicken pies ($5.80). Cakes by the slice ($10.90) are available too, in flavours like cempedak cheese and tiramisu. If you have to pick, order the rum canele ($5.90), which has a slightly crunchy exterior and dense middle, perfect for nibbling with coffee.
Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Large apple tree that will produce fruit in its first season plummets from £35 to £15
Enjoy freshly grown apples from the comfort of your own garden with this large fruit tree that's currently up for grabs for less than half its ordinary price thanks to this sale Green-thumbed shoppers keen to start growing their own fruit can't go wrong with a traditional apple tree, which is set to yield masses of sweet and crisp fruit as early as its first growing season. But if you're worried a tree like this may come with a hefty price tag, look no further, as this Gardening Express offer has slashed it from its ordinary price of £34.97 to £14.97. Currently available for £20 less, this specially bred Apple Tree variety is supplied as an already large and well-established plant, at approximately 3-year-old trees in a 5-litre container. Ready to start fruiting readily within the first year or so after planting, this apple tree is naturally tough, hardy, with great fruit quality and disease resistance, ensuring it's at home in a UK garden or on a patio as it's sure to withstand the ever-changing weather through season after season. An ideal choice for novices or adept gardeners, this apple tree is very easy to grow and is a slow-growing variety that usually needs no pruning or maintenance. These apple trees are perfectly happy in large patio planters on terraces or balconies or planted in the open garden. They will eventually reach an eventual height of around 150cm. Producing medium-sized fruit, this tree offers round to slightly flattened apples that have a beautiful green-yellow colour when ripe. It is extremely juicy and very firm, with a sweet flavour that is sweeter than the well-known Golden Delicious. Typically ready to harvest in early September, the fruit can be left on the tree longer to develop its distinctive flavour.
Axios
27-06-2025
- Business
- Axios
VC legal dispute threatens biotech startups
Apple Tree Partners has invested billions of dollars to launch and grow biotech companies, but now a legal dispute threatens to shut many of them down. The big picture: Apple Tree has an unusual structure for a venture capital firm, according to court documents filed in Delaware and the Cayman Islands. Since 2012 it's been almost entirely funded by one man, a Russian oligarch named Dmitry Rybolovlev. If that name sounds familiar, it's probably because you remember his unsuccessful art fraud allegations against auction house Sotheby's. Rybolovlev made more than $2.4 billion of commitments to Apple Tree, but not via a blind pool. Instead, Apple Tree would propose "budgets" for new portfolio companies for approval by Rybolovlev or a representative of his family office. Zoom in: This concentrated capital arrangement was risky for Apple Tree portfolio companies, particularly given that Apple Tree sought to be their only investor via tranched financings. The protection was a "global default" provision. Were Rybolovlev to refuse a valid capital call, the fund could confiscate up to 50% of his interests. Behind the scenes: According to a lawsuit filed by Apple Tree, this arrangement worked fine until shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. After that, Apple Tree claims that Rybolovlev got stingy. By September 2022, his family office allegedly said it only would approve "austerity" budgets going forward. There were some legal wranglings in the Caymans, which got resolved. Fast forward: Last month, Apple Tree issued over $100 million in capital calls — $87 million of which is earmarked for up to 10 portfolio companies. This is according to a Cayman's complaint by Rybolovlev because much of Apple Tree's filing in Delaware is redacted. He claims that he is not legally obligated to pay because, in part, the companies haven't met certain milestones. Moreover, he accuses Apple Tree of "serious mismanagement and a lack of probity." Apple Tree calls the situation "an emergency," saying that several of its portfolio companies "face imminent collapse." In fact, a source tells Axios that one of them has already signaled its plans to shutter. Look ahead: The firm is asking the court for specific performance (i.e., require that Rybolovlev meet his capital call), and argues that Rybolovlev actually wants them to struggle and sell to him on the cheap.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ark Academy taking over last Apple Tree center
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The last of the four Apple Tree buildings in Sioux Falls has a new owner. The Apple Tree Children's Centers announced they were closing in December 2023. Shortly after that, it was announced that Apple Tree West would remain open under new ownership. In the following months, Apple Tree North and Apple Tree Valhalla were sold. Now, Apple Tree East been taken over. Former deputy sheriff charged with rape after standoff Ark Academy is the new name attached to the child care center on East 26th Street. Hollie and Brock Scott are now running the center. 'Ark Academy is a faith-based, Christian program we're putting together to serve the community. We've always had a passion for children and servitude,' Brock Scott said. As parents themselves, the Scotts want to create a space that feels safe for the whole family. 'The community needs good child care. I can't promise we'll be the best but we're going to try to give, every day, the best we can,' Hollie Scott said. The Scotts hope Ark Academy can also be a safe space for foster kids in the community. 'We're going to keep some spots open for the foster system. There's a lot of need for care in the foster system, but there's also a lot of need for parents in the foster system,' Hollie Scott said. Enrollment for Ark Academy is open now for infants to school-aged children. But they are also in need of some staff members. 'We really need a cook, so if you love to cook, we need a cook. And then lead teachers and assistant teachers,' Hollie Scott said. The plan is to open June 16th, but until then they are getting each room ready to welcome in kids once again. 'Looking forward to serving the community and helping also, like I said, that foster community as well and just do our service — just be here for people, love on people and be a shining light to the community,' Brock Scott said. Ark Academy will host an open house on June 5th from 4 to 7 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
From "Manufacturing Overseas" to "Cultural Voyage": STARAY Breaks Boundaries
From Osaka to Cannes: How a Pair of Chinese 3D-Printed Shoes Went So Far HANGZHOU, China, May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On May 15, 2025, NambaParks in Osaka, a shopping district featuring top international brands, welcomed STARAY's second store in Japan. As fashion-forward individuals in Tokyo's Ginza district strolled through the cherry blossom rain in STARAY's 3D-printed shoes, this Chinese brand was simultaneously showcasing a cross-border dialogue between technology and art at the Cannes Film Festival. STARAY served as a supporting partner for the official event "China Night" at the 78th Cannes International Film Market. The opening of two stores in Japan within six months and the cultural resonance expected at the Cannes Film Festival indicate that STARAY is redefining the global perception of Chinese brands.A Journey of Trust, A Declaration of DreamsOn July 24, 2024, at STARAY's headquarters in Hangzhou, the AppleTree team from Japan gently presented a market research report on 3D-printed shoes to the STARAY team. This "love letter" to the product was the result of three months of testing competing products, conducting repurchase tests, and product research. From the initial discussions to the signing of the framework agreement on August 9, just 16 days later, the Japanese team had already drafted a "100-day action plan" for the Japanese market during their return flight. On September 12, the pop-up store at Daimaru debuted, and on October 2, STARAY showcased its products at the DMS Osaka 3D Printing Expo, followed by the Kobe Footwear Exhibition on October 16, creating a sensation in Japan's consumer goods market and the 3D printing industry. On November 28, the flagship store in Kitahorie, Osaka, opened, featuring a smart screen that displayed real-time operations of 3D printers from Chinese smart factories. Consumers in the experience area marveled at the shoes, exclaiming they felt "as light as walking barefoot." This dual disruption of technological precision and wearing comfort is reshaping Japan's perception of "Made in China." The speed of this collaboration's progress mirrors the fully lattice structure of STARAY's shoe soles—bursting with energy through precise calculations. In Japan's work culture, where "overwork" is common, STARAY's products have become a gentle remedy. Commuters have found that the fully lattice hollow soles alleviate foot pressure from an average of 20,000 steps a day. The elite circles in Ginza regard the "190 grams ultra-lightweight" as a key to escaping the confines of formal attire. This "rebellion" against an efficiency-driven society is the confidence that the Japanese team has staked everything on—they are betting not only on product performance but also on the deep-seated desire for mental and physical freedom in a fast-paced era. The Awakening and Breakthrough of Tech Consumer GoodsIn a time when many globally renowned sports brands are applying 3D printing technology to the design and production of athletic shoes, STARAY undoubtedly stands as a pioneer on this innovative path. In just six months since entering the Japanese market, the comfort brought by its fully lattice hollow structure, along with its functionality across various scenarios—fitness training, everyday wear, and outdoor activities—has led outdoor enthusiasts and office workers to deem STARAY as "an indispensable shoe in life." The Japanese footwear media "Shoes Post" commented on STARAY's products: "STARAY shoes combine ergonomic design with 3D printing technology, achieving a fusion of fashion and cutting-edge technology. They are comfortable, durable, and environmentally friendly. Lightweight and flexible, they offer a variety of colors and sizes to suit different lifestyles, making them ideal for urban living and sure to gain a large following." have always believed in a core principle: STARAY aims to be a brand that continuously brings surprises and emotions. We hope that when consumers think of STARAY, they envision freedom, self-expression, and the integration of high technology with lifestyle experiences,' said Xiuming Park, head of the Japanese agency. 'Opening our second store is not just a commercial calculation; it's a brand declaration.' Facing a performance curve that still needs to climb, the Japanese team demonstrates strategic resolve. They understand that in the Japanese market, which values a '200-year enterprise' culture, the continuous presence of physical stores is essential for building genuine consumer trust. The unfinished journey of Chinese footwear brands in the Japanese market over the past twenty years may be rewritten by a pair of 3D-printed shoes. This transformation represents not only breakthroughs in additive manufacturing technology but also a qualitative shift in Chinese consumer brands from "cost-performance output" to "value dialogue." As STARAY founder Luo Jie stated, 'We aim to be translators of technology and culture.' STARAY's successful entry into the Japanese high-end consumer market proves that when Chinese companies deeply integrate technological expertise, digital infrastructure, and localized operations, they can break the stereotype that "Made in China means low-end." 'I hope STARAY can be the first Chinese footwear technology brand to make a mark in the Japanese market, becoming a unique leader in this field through its distinctive additive manufacturing technology and fashion integration capabilities,' expressed the head of the Japanese AppleTree team with confidence. A Voyage Abroad: The Value Leap from Manufacturing to Cultural InfluenceIn STARAY's global expansion blueprint, the Japanese market serves not only as a testing ground but also as a strategic pivot. The appearance at the Cannes Film Festival represents a significant exploration of STARAY's focus on building cultural influence for Chinese brands. As the red carpet unfurls at the Palais des Festivals, STARAY's 3D-printed shoes transcend being mere tech consumer products, becoming vessels for dialogue between Eastern and Western cultures. On May 15, 2025, as an official supporting partner for the "China Night" event at the 78th Cannes International Film Market, STARAY will participate in this premier global cultural event—marking not only the debut of Chinese 3D printing technology on the international film festival stage but also signaling a paradigm shift for Chinese brands from "manufacturing overseas" to "cultural voyages."The construction of brand cultural influence is never about piling up technical parameters; it is about a deep resonance with human values. STARAY's choice to collaborate with the Chinese film industry stems from their shared path of breakthrough—opening the gates of Berlin with "Red Sorghum," dazzling Cannes with "Farewell My Concubine," and redefining sci-fi narratives with "The Wandering Earth." The journey of Chinese cinema over thirty years, breaking the dominance of Western cultural discourse, mirrors the transition of Chinese brands from "product export" to "value export." On the stage of the "China Night" event at the 78th Cannes International Film Market, STARAY will appear as a "supporting partner for the China Film and Forum," transforming the brand's pursuit of "mental and physical freedom" into tangible empowerment for Chinese cultural narratives. This choice reflects the brand's commitment to "long-termism": just as Chinese filmmakers use cinematic language to deconstruct the cultural barriers between East and West, STARAY believes that only by rooting itself in the fertile soil of humanistic spirit can it truly bridge the gap between commerce and civilization. The philosophy of "entrusting the body to the product and the heart to the brand" takes on new meaning at this moment—when technology becomes a tool that serves humanity, and when brands become bridges for cultural dialogue, the expedition of Chinese intelligence is no longer a one-dimensional commercial expansion but a civilizational practice about "how to help the world better understand China." Media ContactCompany Name: STARAYContact: Cora HuEmail: Cora@ Photos accompanying this announcement are available at in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
